The day began as a day of fishing chain pickerel around Chipman, New Brunswick but by 2 we thought it was perfect weather for trying the Saint John river around Jemseg for some smallmouth bass.

I had mentioned that Casey and I were on the Saint John river a couple of weeks ago and we had a great time.

I wouldn’t even think about it in a canoe if there was any amount of wind or large waves but it was calm and we would stay close to the shore.

Great To Have A Trolling Motor

Also I would have thought twice before going without Jamie’s trolling motor. Especially when we aren’t certain about the speed of the current there.

I don’t have a boat of my own, yet but you can be sure I’ll have a trolling motor just like I did on my last boat.

Checkout the affordable Bass Pro Shops Prowler T30/30 Trolling Motor and let the fishing wear your arms out, not the paddles.

We launched the canoe at the same spot Casey launched when we were there. Casey and I headed straight to the opposite side and headed down toward Harts Lake for a few pickerel, trolling for smallmouth bass on the way.

Jamie didn’t take long to get the first fish. It was cute but no smallie. Ah, such a cute little perch.

Jamie Which Is The Lure??

It always amazes me when we catch fish on lures bigger than the fish. Of course when it’s Jamie with the little fish it’s time for me to tease him a bit.

At the beginning we were still in the main part of the river and had to deal with a few boat wakes. We were careful to face the canoe into the waves.

Not long after we started down the river we came to a big island that protected us from traffic on the main part of the river. This allowed us to feel a little safer further from shore.

I Have Two Rods Why Not Use Them

I was trolling with one rod and held it under my foot while I was using my second rod to cast to the structure near the shoreline. Why waste a rod by letting it sit in the bottom of the canoe, when it could be catching fish, right?

A couple of moments after Jamies first fish I hooked bottom but then the bottom jumped about 3 feet out of the water and spit my Rapala countdown lure at Jamie.

I think we fished a couple of miles down river before turning around and heading back.

We caught a few fish, had a lot of laughs. At one point we thought we were funny enough to go out on the road with our act.

About half way back to the launch point Jamie had another strike so I quickly retrieved my line so as not to get tangled with his monster fish.

Just as I reached the canoe, behind Jamie, I thought I snagged his trolling motor but I didn’t. A nice sized, 16 inch smallmouth bass, had hit my Rapala countdown right at the boat and flew out of the water covering Jamie.

Rapala has so many great lures it’s hard to buy just one. Here is a Rapala Trolls-To?-Minnow – Chrome – TTM20 I am looking at today.

I think it saw Jamies fish and was following it back to the canoe when it saw my lure cruising past it and changed it’s focus to my lure. Thanks Jamie.

The Perfect Way To End A Smallmouth Bass Fishing Day

You can see the water behind me. That’s what it was like for the entire day. Who could ask for a better day of fishing?

I’m proud to be Canadian, eh and spent it doing something I love, fishing with a friend.

Jamie picked me up and we were on the road to Chipman just before 5am.

I had everything ready Thursday evening so all I had to do was get up, grab some breakfast and be ready to jump in as Jamie drove by my house.

I’ve mentioned Jamie a few times in my posts but just in case you’re not sure who he is he’s the owner of FishingFunInNewBrunswick.com and he loves to fish, maybe even as much as I do.

Here’s a link to his Fishing Fun in New Brunswick website, be sure to check it out and let him know what you think about his fishing adventures.

Fishing Fun In New Brunswick

What The Heck Is That?

We turned off the main highway and came up over a hill on highway 10 into Chipman. Just as we came over the top of the hill I said what the heck is that, a new mountain where Chipman used to be or what.

I grabbed my camera and snapped a picture. It’s a little dark but I am sure you can see the huge fog back we were about to enter.

Even though the fog looked bad it lasted about two minutes and all was clear from then on.

Welcome to Fog Mountain

We drove through a rather quiet Chipman, well except for the guy in front of us who was moving at turtle speed. He must have known we were going fishing.

Early Morning Red Bank

We came up around the corner to the point we could see the water and it was like a mirror, my favourite water to fish. Now I was really hyper.

Jamie backed his car and canoe down to the water and in minutes we were chain pickerel fishing for the first time this year.

I drank a big mug of coffee on the drive so I needed to relieve myself and thought you might like to see the beautiful scenery New Brunswick has to offer, even while taking a leak.

Breath Taking Scenery in New Brunswick

The entire day was cloudy which helped to keep it from getting too hot which was just fine with me.

The thing I don’t care for the most when fishing is the wind, especially when in a canoe but Friday was almost wind-less making for the perfect day in my books.

Before we got in the canoe for the day I thought I would practice my victory dance.

Our day started on the side of the road at Redbank the river is on which is always my first choice before moving to other great locations along the Salmon river.

We fished there for a few hours, caught a few pickerel and then moved through the culvert to the other side.

The water was still high enough for use to run the canoe and trolling motor right through. Sure beats carrying the canoe to the other side.

Lucky for me Jamie was driving which gave me first shot at the other side, as soon as I was close enough to cast out of the curlvert.

Immediately a nice little chain pickerel smacked my worm.

Screaming fish-on in a culvert sounds pretty cool.

Usually we will fish pickerel right until dark if the conditions are right but Jamie mentioned giving the Saint John river a try at about Jemseg.

Casey and I had been there a couple of weeks ago and had a great time so I was certainly up for that, but that’s another story for another day.

We arrived back home to find it had rained hard there making us feel even better about how nice the day was for us.

I drifted off to sleep watching the fireworks over the trees in our backyard, what a great ending for the perfect Canada Day.

Friend and fishing buddy Casey emailed me Friday to see if I was up for a day of fishing Saturday.

He hadn’t quite made up his mind as to where to go, Cassidy Lake or the Saint John river and Harts Lake.

I told him I love fishing Cassidy lake but I had never fished in the Saint John river or Harts Lake in the 30 years I have lived in New Brunswick.

I’m so glad we headed to Jemseg and the Saint John river.

The water temperature is still kind of cool early mornings so we planned to leave at 9, although Casey tends to show up about a half hour early which always makes me happy.

Knowing he would most likely show up early I decided to take Jenny for breakfast as I wouldn’t see her all day but I knew I better be back before 8:30, so it was an early breakfast at Hynes restaurant on Mountain road Moncton,

Sure enough Casey was 30 minutes early.

We were both anxious to fish making the trip seem longer than it really is but finally we arrived. I believe it was the TCH bridge at Gagetown where we launched.

Launched From Under The TCH Bridge Gagetown

After a few system checks we were launched and heading across the river. Our day of fishing had begun.

Ready To Hit The Water

Once we reached the other side of the river Casey lined us up for trolling down towards Harts lake but close enough for me to also be able to cast to the shore line.

He likes to laugh at me jumping around the boat casting everywhere. He does keep an eye on the rod I’m trolling with so I don’t miss anything when my backs turned.

Tried Something New

Our last day out, at Cassidy lake I just didn’t have any luck trolling. I think I would have done better if I wasn’t changing my lure so often.

I couldn’t seem to find a lure that didn’t hit bottom and kept changing lures all day long.

By the end of the day my butt was pretty sore as Casey kicked it hard that day.

I thought about trolling and made the decision to pick one lure and stick with all day.

I love my Rapala lures so I picked one that would run at about 5 feet. That was my little Rapala countdown, about 3″ long with a perch pattern.

The plan seemed to work perfectly as I caught the first fish, a smallmouth bass and then the second fish, a small pickerel.

Then I hooked a smallie and then a pickerel while casting under the trees along the bank. I was using a 5″ red senko worm for casting to the shoreline.

I didn’t use the red senko worm all day. Where the shoreline was clear of dead or downed trees I switched to a Rapala lure that looks like a shrimp.

I’ve caught a lot of smallmouth bass using that over the years but this day it didn’t do anything. They wanted that red worm.

Breath Taking Scenery

The scenery along the Saint John river is beautiful and I’m always happy to be the passenger on these trips so I can take pictures and watch the scenery go flying by.

The picture below reminds me of a little island my brother and I used to camp on in Gorgian Bay Ontario many moons ago.

What A Gorgeous Day We Had

This picture was taken early in the day and shows a few clouds but they soon disappeared leaving a beautiful clear sky all day.

Casey, you picked the perfect day for fishing thanks.

Even the wind was on our side. Just enough of a breeze to keep us from frying in the sun but not enough to even make waves.

I think I mentioned I caught the first few fish. Did I mention that Casey?

We reached the entrance to Harts lake and moved out of the river which excited me again. Another spot I had never fished before then.

Entrance to Harts Lake

We fished up through Harts lake catching pickerel all the way although more we under 20 inches. I did catch one that went 21 inches but it was a fatty making me think it was much bigger.

As we were going through the channel into Coy lake we saw that the water was still high and a lot of trees are living in rather soaked conditions.

Spring Flooding Slowing Going Down

Some of the places we fished sure looked like farmer’s fields covered in a couple feet of water.

Coy lake didn’t seem to be very deep, even though the water was high, so I’m not sure what it would be like when the water goes down.

I think this would be a canoe or float tube lake once the water drops but I would bet the pickerel would be thick in there.

Casey practiced using his new trolling motor. That’s going to be coming in very handy as the weed start getting thicker.

At the end of our day, as we were trolling back up to the launch area I was still using that same Rapala countdown and had one smallie right after the other, all the way back to the bridge.

Mmm Victory Tastes So Good

When we go fishing we usually have a little contest where the NON winner gets the privledge of buying ice cream for the winners.

At the end of our day of fishing I had hooked and landed just over 40 fish.

I believe Casey had 24 fish so I got free ice cream, which in my humble opinion always seems to taste better.

Cassidy Lake Pickerel Fishing 2011 Part One

Casey landed his first pickerel and had the biggest grin on his face. Not sure if it was because it was his first fish of 2011 or because it wasn’t me with the first fish.

Ha, maybe a little of both. I sure hope it’s not a sign of things to come for 2011 as he just kept catching them and smiling, a lot.

Casey was using minnow baits with blood red hooks and what a huge difference it made to the fish catching.

I didn’t have any lures with the blood red hooks and they just weren’t interested at all.

He kept offering me lures, even ones with red hooks but I don’t like losing other people’s lures so for a time I just said thanks but didn’t use them.

Well after Casey’s 7th fish to my zero I was willing to lose one of his lures. Errr I mean use one of his lures.

Finally I hooked into a monster. Well maybe not a monster but I am sure it was all of 12 maybe 13 inches, it just thought it was bigger.

Fishing Tip of the Day: If you haven’t given blood red hooks a try yet you don’t know what you’re missing out on. Casey was smart and started replacing the hooks on his baits at least a year ago.

You can be sure I will be ordering some red hooks to replace my existing hooks.

I will tell you that if you invest in lures with blood red hooks or buy new blood red hooks for your lures you just might get a whole lot more action.

Casey couldn’t seem to do anything wrong Friday, even though it was Friday the 13th.

Even though I started catching pickerel they were few and far between for me. Casey on the other hand just kept catching them.

A Great Day of Pickerel Fishing

I was still determined to catch some pickerel on lures without red hooks. After all I fished for many years before red hooks and did great.

Well I did manage to catch a few more using a perch pattern and ended my day with 7 pickerel and a sun burned face. It really looked like I was most embarrassed about getting my butt kicked

I believe that Casey landed 25 pickerel by the end of our day. So he caught the first fish of the day, the most fish of the day along with the biggest.

I am already looking forward to my next trip to Cassidy Lake. I had kind of forgotten about the lake once we started pickerel fishing the Chipman, New Brunswick area.

I guess there’s just not enough time to fish all the places I love as often as I would like.

Maybe I will get more fishing in once I retire in a couple of years.

Casey, thanks for the great day of fun and I love what you’ve done with your boat. It’s going to be an awesome summer.

Related articles

• A Chain Pickerel By Any Other Name (thejoyofflyfishing.com)
• Cassidy Lake Pickerel 2011 (flyfishinginnewbrunswick.com)

It was a very long winter and I didn’t get out much at all so when Casey emailed me to see if I was up for a little fishing trip to Cassidy Lake I forgot all about the long winter.

I’ll tell you it didn’t take long to respond to his email. I want to just email the word DUH!!.

Cassidy Lake is actually the first lake I fished for chain pickerel and is where I landed my personal best at 24″.

My fishing buddy for that day was Roland who had never fished pickerel, he hadn’t even seen one before. Beginners luck allowed him to hook into a 26″ pickerel as his very first catch.

Twenty years later and I still haven’t beat or matched his first pickerel.

It’s been more than 20 years since I fished in Cassidy Lake. After I sold my boat and started using a canoe I found I got trapped in the back end of the lake way too many times once the wind picked up which was most days.

I think I got about 3 hours sleep Thursday night. I just kept looking at the stupid clock all night and was up by 4am checking my fishing gear.

So glad Casey had the same problem and showed up early.

So We Were Off To Cassidy Lake, Friday 13th, 2011

It drizzled and rained all the way there but once we made the turn and headed down the hill towards Cassidy Lake the liquid sunshine stopped and I think the clouds even got a bit lighter.

Gloomy Day on Cassidy Lake New Brunswick

We pulled into the boat launch which was just a path when I used to fish here. So much easier to lauch a boat now.

As soon as I stepped out of the truck I was so glad I had my winter clothes. The wind was quite chilly. I immediately put on my neoprene waders, my toque and even my gloves.

Casey did all the safety checks and we launched the boat. Our first day of fishing for 2011 had begun.

Casey’s Fishing Boat

Once we were on the water, away from the shore the wind didn’t seem nearly as cold. Not sure why but I was certainly happy.

Note: I didn’t catch a single fish using my favourite red worm I write so much about, but more about that after I get some rest.

Pickerel Fishing Cassidy Lake New Brunswick Part Two

Related articles

• A Chain Pickerel By Any Other Name (thejoyofflyfishing.com)
• Tying A Few Flies For New Brunswick Chain Pickerel Action On The Fly (thejoyofflyfishing.com)
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Image via Wikipedia

I have always loved getting out on opening day of fishing season but the fact I got married on April 17 means that every so often our anniversary is on the weekend and that kind of messes up my fishing plans.

I had the opportunity to go on a fishing trip and even asked permission. I guess I hadn’t been married long enough to know when YES means NO.

I went away on the fishing trip and I am sure I am still not forgiven for that bone-headed move.

Living in Moncton, New Brunswick we only have one east Indian restaurant that I is within walking distance so we like to go there on our anniversary.

The restaurant is just off Mountain Road on Killiam Drive and has the best Indian cuisine. Mmmm, so good and spicy.

Getting My Fishing License

I knew I wouldn’t be going fishing on the weekend, if I want to stay married, but Chubbies is just up the street and they sell fishing licenses. I suggested we go up there first and pick up my fishing license. I had to make a promise that I would not go fishing on the weekend. She even paid for my salmon license.

As of Sunday we were married 29 years and I remember that day so well. Fear will do that to you, kinda burns things into your mind.

We were blessed with the most gorgeous day.

Finally the wedding stuff was over and we were on our way out of town for our honeymoon. We were heading to Ontario to visit Niagara Falls and then to visit some of our family throughout Ontario. However our first night would be spent in Fredericton.

As we were getting closer to Fredericton we could see the water levels were so high they were right at the road. The radio was saying they might have to close that part of the road if it didn’t stop rising.

There were dozens of moose stranded on the road because the water was too high off road so there were police and rangers everywhere along the road telling people not to stop and take pictures as the moose were stressed enough already.

It took us a long time getting through that section of road and I kinda pushed the pedal to the metal trying to make up time. After all we were on our honeymoon. Then the lights came on, behind us. It was the police.

He saw the writing on the car saying “Just Married“, gave us a warning, wished us a happy marriage and sent us on our way with a message of safety.

Next year, 2012 is our 30th anniversary so I was thinking that maybe we could take a fishing trip somewhere nice. I haven’t got up the nerve to mention that one yet.

Image via Wikipedia

I have had so much fun in the past thirty years, since I first learned to use a fly rod. I am not saying I haven’t had a few times that I wanted to throw everything in the drink but practice has helped. My older brother did get fed up one day, angry is more like it, and threw all his gear including his rod and reel in a lake and said he was done with fishing. What a temper Bobby Boy.

I never let him live that one down.

In all seriousness fly casting isn’t that tough to learn and you can be on the water catching fish in just minutes. The thing is that bad habits always seem easy learn but are rather tough to break so take the time to learn correctly from square one and you will have a new hobby to enjoy for a lifetime.

Oh by the way it’s never really too late to learn how. Just ask my good friend Casey the next time you see him on the water because he is going to learn how to fly fish for the first time in his life and let’s just say he’s older than I am and I learned when I was 30 and that was 30 years ago.

Here’s a video I found on Youtube this morning that goes into the details of fly casting. What is the difference between casting using a fly rod and a spinning rod. Information that’s useful to know. Even a bit about safety so you can stay on the water longer without sticking a hook in yourself.

But today it’s all about learning how to make the fly land on the water where you want it to. So here it is, enjoy.

Let me know how you liked the video and share an experience with our readers using the comment box.

Doug Swisher Scientific Anglers Basic Fly Casting Video - DVD - Line/term/acc/boats Offer by: Bass Pro Shops Price: USD 17.95 For years Scientific Anglers fly fishing instructors have been helping anglers of all levels improve their skills and increase their fishing productivity. In this Basic Fly Casting DVD, expert angler and teacher Doug Swisher guides you through the basic principles of fly casting by teaching you how to make accurate straight casts, the principle of loop control and how to recognize your casting mistakes and correct them. You can pick the perfect fly, but if you can't cast, you don't stand a chance. Running time: 62 minutes. For years Scientific Anglers fly fishing instructors have been helping anglers of all levels improve their skills and increase their fishing productivity. In this Basic Fly Casting DVD, expert angler and teacher Doug Swisher guides you through the ba

''Lefty Kreh on Fly Casting'' Video - DVD - Video/book/mags/electrnic Offer by: Bass Pro Shops Price: USD 26.95 This comprehensive fly casting video will help you fish like a pro. "Lefty Kreh on Fly Casting" features the basics of fly casting in detail, with Lefty demonstrating casting aids and exercises that will help even advanced fly casters improve their distance and accuracy. Lefty also demonstrates 20 specific casts that every fly fisherman should know, including instruction on:Casting in the wind Various roll casts Double-hauling techniques Casting in tight places Changing directions quicklySpecial Feature: This DVD provides an optional second angle of viewing for most of the demonstrations. This allows the viewer to analyze Lefty's technique from both the side and from behind the cast, fully demonstrating how the body motion determines the motion of the rod and line. Learn from Lefty's video and amaze your fishing buddies with your new techniques! 68 minutes. This comprehensive fly casting video will help you fish like a pro. "Lefty Kreh on Fly Casting" features the basics of fly casting in detail, with Lefty demonstrating casting aids and exercises that will help even advanced fly casters improve their d

Davy Wotton WET FLY WAYS - Line/term/acc/boats Offer by: Bass Pro Shops Price: USD 34.95 In this highly-acclaimed video, professional angler and fly fishing instructor, Davy Wotton provides viewers with an introduction to the traditional style of wet fly fishing where multiple flies or a cast of flies are placed on a leader and fished to every quadrant of the stream. Assisted by, Gary Taylor, professional angler and guide, Wotton teaches how the traditional style leads to catching more trout, even under the toughest of conditions on both lakes and rivers. Plus, Wotton discusses the proper wet flies in a cast, what flies to select and for what position in the cast and how to assemble the cast, including the correct knots to use. This is an excellent method for all circumstances besides trout it&8217 s deadly for bass and panfish, and Wotton has even used this method in saltwater for bones and reds. 100 minutes. In this highly-acclaimed video, professional angler and fly fishing instructor, Davy Wotton provides viewers with an introduction to the traditional style of wet fly fishing where multiple flies or a cast of flies are placed on a leader and fished to

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Temple Fork Outfitters? Prism Cast Large Arbor Fly Reel - 7 8 - Rods/reels Offer by: Bass Pro Shops Price: USD 99.95 Reel Consistent with Temple Fork Outfittersamp 8217 tradition of crafting high-performing fly reels at a great price, the lightweight Prism Cast Large Arbor Fly Reel are made from cast aluminum making them ideal for freshwater or saltwater applications.

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• Can’t Hardly Wait For Fishing Season To Open (stepbysteptips.com)
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Image by heathzib via Flickr

We’ve had a beautiful white winter this year, haven’t seen one of those in a long time. Not always much fun shovelling as it gets higher and higher but sure looked like a wonderland looking out my office window into our backyard. Sadly the weight of all that snow on some of our shrubs and bushes was just too much after it started raining and broke the branches off of them.

That’s going to require a lot of extra work come spring, might even have to replace them all. I would much rather be spending that money on fly fishing gear, hope my wife didn’t hear me type that.

On a happier note fishing season’s not far off and that always lifts my spirits, so today I’m bringing my fly fishing gear up from the basement for another season.

Fly Fishing For Chain Pickerel And Smallmouth Bass

Fishing buddy Casey emailed me the other day asking if I had flies for pickerel and bass, which I thought was curious because he doesn’t fly fish, well not yet. As I read on he said he wants to give it a try this year and my excitement level went through the roof.

I told Casey I had some that have been torn up pretty good but would be tying some before fishing season starts. Now I will tie enough so that Jamie, Casey and myself will have enough to tie into some wacky and wild pickerel in our favourite spots. My first pickerel ever was on a fly rod and it’s a lot of fun, especially from my float tube.

I have been fly fishing for smallmouth bass as well and they are a blast on the fly rod. A great fish to watch jumping all over the place. So you can well imagine I am already dreaming of our days on the water in 2011.

White River Fly Shop Lost Lake Open Front Float Tube - Line/term/acc/boats Offer by: Bass Pro Shops Price: USD 109.99 Get more tube for your buck with the Lost Lake Open Front Float Tube from White River Fly Shop. The Lost Lake Open Front Float Tube is constructed from durable 420 denier nylon with rugged PVC bladders, and features tackle storage pouches with dual zippers, removable fly patch, comfortable quick-release seating, hi-vis back safety panel, mesh casting apron with ruler, hook 'n loop rod holder, carrying handles, multiple D-rings for tools and accessories, and a reliable and easy access Boston valve for quick inflation and deflation. Plus, all of the Lost Lake Tube's critical seams have been triple stitched, so you don't have to worry about anything except hooking your next fish! Imported. White River Fly Shop Replacement Open Front Float Tube Bladder sold separately. Get more tube for your buck with the Lost Lake Open Front Float Tube from White River Fly Shop. The Lost Lake Open Front Float Tube is constructed from durable 420 denier nylon with rugged PVC bladders, and features tackle storage pouches with dual z

Classic Accessories Turbo Thruster Float Tube Fins - Line/term/acc/boats Offer by: Bass Pro Shops Price: USD 49.99 Vented fin blades Wear with boot or stocking foot waders Stay snug and secure during use These high-quality Turbo Thruster Float Tube Fins features vented fin blades which provide maximum propulsion to every kick. Designed to be worn with either boot or stocking foot waders, these fins offer a quick, heel strap fit, and release with one click Stay snug and secure during use. Once size fits all. Color: Black/Gray. Vented fin blades Wear with boot or stocking foot waders Stay snug and secure during use These high-quality Turbo Thruster Float Tube Fins features vented fin blades which provide maximum propulsion to every kick. Designed to be worn with either boo

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• Tying A Few Flies For New Brunswick Chain Pickerel Action On The Fly (thejoyofflyfishing.com)

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I can’t begin to tell you how much fun fly fishing has given me over the past 30 years. And to think that it all began with a family visit from Ontario and a 15 minutes lesson on how to cast using a fly rod, thanks to my brother-in-law Joe. I never went back to Ontario and since that time I have had countless hours of fun and excitement fly fishing for brook trout, Atlantic salmon, smallmouth bass and chain pickerel.

How time flies when you’re having fly fishing fun, right?

Sage Fly Fishing Rods from RiverBum.com. We give you Maximum Fishability and Lifetime Warranty.

I took a part time job pumping gas for Sears, in Dieppe so I could have lots of time to practice my new fly fishing skills on some of the most gorgeous brook trout I had ever seen. I just kept finding new brooks and streams and they all seem to have hungry brookies waiting for a fly.

So I spent the next 4 or 5 years getting familiar with the waters of New Brunswick and even started fly fishing bass and pickerel which opened a whole new world of fishing to me.

Ready To Fish at The Drop of a Hat

I was definitely addicted to fly fishing, so much so that I almost always had my canoe on the roof of my car ready to go fishing and of course kept my fishing gear in the car 24/7. I could get off work and be fishing in a half hour if I wanted to but as time went on I found more and more places to fish so some days I would drive for awhile to get to some new waters. It never gets old.

God Wants Me To Fly Fish

I remember one day I came out of work ready to go fishing and saw that my car had been broken into. I was instantly heart broken as I expected to see my fly fishing rods, reels, waders, gear, and 100s of flies that took me a long time to tie to be gone. I would have to buy all new stuff and that wasn’t really in the budget.

I looked inside and nearly burst into tears. Then I started doing the Happy Dance. All my fly fishing gear was still there. So I wondered if the broken passanger window was an accident. Then I saw the glove box was open and all our CDs were missing. This highly intelligent thief had stolen about 15 or 20 christian CDs and left hundreds of dollars in fishing gear just sitting there.

I went back into the gas bar and told the guys I work with what happened and we all had a good laugh. Then one of the guys from the automotive shop helped me put plastic over the window and I headed off fishing feeling very blessed that God wants me to fish.

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• Fly Fishing Chain Pickerel in New Brunswick (thejoyofflyfishing.com)
• Fly Fishing For Trout Tips For Beginners (mademan.com)
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I live in New Brunswick Canada where I love fly fishing for the powerful Atlantic salmon. I am sure anyone here older than 10 years would have heard about Atlantic salmon, perhaps not by their scientific name, Salmo Salar, as I was in my 30s and already fly fishing for Atlantic salmon before I heard that term.

Personally I can’t get enough of the fight the Atlantic salmon puts up and they taste so good on the BBQ and Atlantic salmon sandwiches are great. But I also like to just sit on the river bank with a nice hot mug of coffee and just watch these leapers jumping out of the water.

I have also camped right next to salmon pools and find that they tend jump even more during the night. It’s kind of frustrating when you are actually in the water and they are jumping every where except on the end of your line.

Black Salmon

The salmon we catch in the rivers in the early spring, those that have been in the river all winter are known as black salmon because they get so much darker the longer they stay in the river. They start as bright silver from the ocean and then slowly take on the colours of the river and it’s bottom.

The Atlantic salmon can be found in the north and south about as far south as Maine, USA, only returning to the river that spawned them so they can spawn in the same place. Because the spawn takes place in their home rivers salmon are born into fresh water where they stay until for a while and then move out to the ocean for 2 or 3 years before returning to that same river to spawn, although they may not actually spawn on their first trip home.

Today, due to fishing pressure by commercial fishers, you will find a lot of Atlantic salmon being farmed instead of taken from the wild.

We are not allowed to keep adult salmon here in New Brunswick but we can keep a few grilse for dinners with the family.  Grilse are Atlantic salmon smaller than 24 3/4 inches.

I prefer to BBQ my salmon steaks but I also enjoy stuffing the entire salmon grilse with onions, tomatoes, salt and pepper. That’s how my wife’s parents enjoyed it as well.

Check out more Atlantic salmon facts.